LifeStyle

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  Biotech companies selected for state project to establish big data in biology SEOUL -- A consortium of three South Korean biotech companies involved in genetic analysis and research has been selected for a state pilot project aimed at establishing big data in biology. It is part of the so-called K-DNA project to support the development of new drugs, medical device products and the digital healthcare industry. The two-year project involving Theragen Bio, Macrogen and DNA Link calls for the establishment of clinical information and genomic data about more tha 2020-10-26
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  Seoul builds futuristic public bus stops installed with various convenience facilities SEOUL -- Seoul, which is South Korea's densely populated capital with a population of more than 9.7 million, will introduce a futuristic public bus stop called "Smart Shelter" based on various convenience facilities such as an automatic stop system, air purifiers, ultraviolent air curtains, CCTVs, air conditioners, a wireless mobile phone charging system and Wi-Fi. The installation of smart shelters on a trial basis is underway at ten places on Seoul's exclusive me 2020-10-22
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  Community health centers introduce innovative 5G MEC system for dementia detection SEOUL -- In South Korea, which is one of the world's most rapidly aging societies, the prevention, early detection and cure of Alzheimer's disease has been an important part of its welfare policy. An innovative cognitive analysis system using virtual reality headsets will be combined with 5G-based mobile edge computing technology for the early detection of cognitive impairment. The system will be tested in November at community centers for senior citizens with mild dementia 2020-10-22
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  POSCO joins hands with domestic firms to provide innovative water supply blocks for roadside trees SEOUL -- POSCO, a top steel company in South Korea, joined hands with two domestic companies to participate in South Korea's green city project with an innovative street facility that consists of water-permeable blocks capable of storing rainwater and supplying moisture to roadside trees. POSCO said it signed a business agreement with KT, a major telecom company in South Korea, and Mystech, which produces specialized products for roadside facilities, for the joint marketing of f 2020-10-21
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  GC Pharma's plasma treatment allowed for actual use in treating COVID-19 patients SEOUL -- An immunoglobulin drug based on plasma containing antibodies won special approval to be used for the treatment of COVID-19 patients. The drug developed by GC Pharma, a biotech company in South Korea, has yet to complete clinical trials, but a state public health watchdog gave permission for critically ill patients who do not have other means of treatment. The green light came from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, which allowed Kyungpook National University Hospital to 2020-10-20
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  Modular negative-pressure ward built for S. Korea's state hospital SEOUL -- A three-story modular negative-pressure ward with 30 rooms was completed for a state hospital to treat COVID-19 patients. It is South Korea's largest negative-pressure ward. Kolong Global, a civil engineering and architectural firm, assembled it in a week, but the ward met strict criteria required by South Korea's state anti-epidemic center. The modular ward can be operated as a single unit that consists of multiple wards and air purifiers that provide and suck 2020-10-19
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  Celltrion checks antibody treatment's effect of COVID-19 infection prevention SEOUL -- Celltrion, a South Korean bio firm involved in a state project to find the treatment of COVID-19 patients, will conduct a test to determine if its COVID-19 antibody treatment, CT-P59, has the effect of infection prevention and initial virus death. The test will cover about 1,000 people who had close contact with confirmed patients or asymptomatic virus carriers. Second and third-stage clinical trials are under way to verify the efficacy and safety of CT-P59. Celltrion has 2020-10-12
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  Rapid antibody screening cited as core of global fight against COVID-19 SEOUL -- Rapid antibody screening will emerge as the core of a global fight against COVID-19, a genome analysis company said, predicting the method will be introduced in the U.S. in six months. When a virus invades the body, the immune system produces antibodies to fight it. Antibody tests have been used in South Korea to estimate the extent of infections at a population level. Various indicators should be used for accurate diagnosis and treatment, said Lee Min-seob, co-CEO of E 2020-10-07
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  Theragen selected for state project to develop large-scale analysis method for COVID-19 cases SEOUL -- Theragen Bio, a genetic analysis service provider, has been selected for a state project to develop a large-scale, efficient and low-cost method that can quickly analyze thousands of cases. The new method will be used for massive and periodic diagnoses at schools, institutions, enterprises and health care centers. Theragen said it would team up with college research teams to develop a diagnostic method that enables a large-scale investigation of infectious diseases such a 2020-10-05
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  LG Chem's novel drug for obesity treatment wins FDA designation SEOUL -- LB54640, a novel drug developed by LG Chem for the treatment of genetic disorders of obesity has won the Food and Drug Administration's orphan drug designation. A first-stage clinical study is under way in the United States. The company aims to carry out second and third-stage clinical trials in 2022 and secure sales approval in 2026. FDA's orphan drug designation (ODD) is granted to drugs intended for the safe and effective treatment of rare diseases and disorders 2020-09-28
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  Standigm partners with SK C&C to unveil AI service for drug development SEOUL -- Standigm, a startup known for AI-based material optimization platforms, joined hands with SK C&C, the information technology wing of South Korean conglomerate SK Group, to unveil an artificial intelligence service that enables the quick traction of genes and proteins for the development of new drugs. It can be used free of charge by companies and researchers. The two companies will test-run iCLUE & ASK, a target discovery service. When searching for diseases under r 2020-09-28
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  Lactic acid bacterium isolated from kimchi found to be effective disinfectant SEOUL -- The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a surge in demand for chemical disinfectants such as alcohol. As a natural alternative, South Korean researchers found that a lactic acid bacterium isolated from kimchi, a traditional Korean fermented vegetable dish, showed significant antibacterial activities. Related technology developed in a research led by the National Institute of Biological Resources (NIBR) has been transferred to private companies for commercial production, the Envi 2020-09-28
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  Excavated traditional makeup products reproduced as new brand SEOUL -- Makeup products used by royal family women during the Joseon dynasty that ruled the Korean peninsula from 1392 to 1897 have been recreated in a modern way. Researchers unveiled three types of cosmetic products -- foundation, moisturizing hand cream and lip balm -- that contained traditional ingredients such as wax and safflower petals. The rebirth of traditional cosmetics used by Princess Hwahyeop (1733∼1752), or Hwahyup, who died of measles at the age of 19 was the r 2020-09-22
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  GC Pharma's immunoglobulin drug administered to patients in second-stage clinical study SEOUL -- An immunoglobulin drug based on plasma containing antibodies, developed by GC Pharma, a biotech company in South Korea, has been administered to COVID-19 patients in a second-stage clinical study involving 60 people to set proper dosage and check safety and efficacy. GC Pharma said that it began administering its new drug called "GC5131A" over the weekend to COVID-19 patients who took part in Phase 2 clinical trials. The company has been involved in a state proj 2020-09-21
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  Celltrion allowed to go ahead with last-stage clinical test of COVID-19 antibody treatment SEOUL -- South Korea's public health watchdog approved second and third-stage clinical trials to verify the efficacy and safety of a COVID-19 antibody treatment developed by Celltrion, which has vowed to complete preparations for the mass supply of therapeutic antibodies for emergency domestic use by the end of this year. The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety allowed Celltrion to carry out a Phase 2 clinical study involving 300 patients and a Phase 3 clinical study involving 72 2020-09-17
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  Clinical trials sought for Ivaltinostat in treating acute pneumonia or fibrosis caused by COVID-19 SEOUL -- Crystal Genomics, a biopharmaceutical company in South Korea, will carry out clinical trials to see if its novel drug candidate, Ivaltinostat, is effective in treating acute pneumonia or fibrosis caused by a novel coronavirus. Crystal Genomics has developed Ivalinostat for various indications such as liver cancer and fibrosis. The company claimed to have confirmed the anti-inflammatory effect of Ivaltinostat by administering it with Camostat to hamster models infected wit 2020-09-15
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  S. Korea approves acquisition of COVID-19 vaccines for 60 % of entire population SEOUL -- The South Korean government approved the proposed acquisition of COVID-19 vaccines that can inoculate some 30 million people or 60 percent of the entire population through cooperation with an international body or foreign companies while accelerating the independent development of effective vaccines. In a cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun, the government decided to acquire vaccines for 10 million people through COVAX Facility, an international organiz 2020-09-15
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  China approves Hunter Syndrome drug from S. Korea's GC Pharm SEOUL -- China's regulatory body has approved a drug developed by GC Pharma, a biotech company in South Korea, for the long-term treatment of patients with Hunter syndrome, a rare, inherited disorder in which the body does not properly digest sugar molecules. GC Pharma said Hunterase has acquired approval from the National Medical Products Administration. An application has been made through CANBridge Pharmaceuticals, which is in charge of Hunterase's development and comme 2020-09-09
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  Celltrion makes preparations for emergency domestic use of COVID-19 antibodies SEOUL -- Celltrion, a South Korean bio firm involved in a state project to find the treatment of COVID-19 patients, vowed to make preparations for the mass supply of therapeutic antibodies for emergency domestic use by the end of this year. The first-stage clinical test of Celltrion's antibody treatment was completed in August. Celltrion Chairman Seo Jung-jin said in a conference hosted by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety on September 7 that his company is ready to carry o 2020-09-08
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  Daewoong allowed to test efficacy of tapeworm treatment medicine in Philippines SEOUL -- Daewoong Pharmaceutical, a major bioengineering company in South Korea, has secured approval from a Philippine health regulatory agency to test the efficacy of niclosamide (DWRX2003), a tapeworm treatment medicine selected as a candidate for COVID-19 antibody treatment. The first clinical study covering 40 patients would begin in September. Daewoong said it was allowed by the Food and Drug Administration of the Philippines to go ahead with the first-stage clinical trial o 2020-09-07